Chapter 2: 1962, Los Angeles, California Summary and Analysis

When Robert was nine years old, he moved with his mother to Europe. His parents had recently divorced and he and his mother toured Europe for several months. That time with his mother prepared him in a unique way for the responsibility he would eventually have. Their adventure in Europe had its ups and downs. They stayed at the finest hotels and ate at the most elite restaurants, squandering all their money. They'd scramble to put a roof over their heads until they were infused with more funds from Robert's grandfather who kept them afloat. After an extended trip to Moscow, they were recalled by his grandfather who had grown tired of supporting their vacation.

Back in the US, they moved to Aspen, CO, which was just a small town and not the hub of...